Saturday, August 14, 2010

Front Runner Construction Update

Below is the FrontRunner South construction update for August 14 - 20. Please note that construction information is subject to change.

FrontRunner South construction began in 2008 and is approximately 50 percent complete. The FrontRunner South line will be complete and operational by 2015. Please visit UTA’s FrontRunner South Webpage to learn more about the project. To view more FrontRunner South construction photos, please visit www.flickr.com/rideuta.

Area 16 — Downtown Salt Lake City to 4500 South (Murray)

Construction Activity:

Utility work continues at 1700 South and 3900 South, and at the 3300 South bridge, crews will restore sidewalks. South of 3900 South, crews will be constructing a retaining wall, and at the Central Avenue bridge, crews will be constructing walls at both bridge abutments. Between Central Avenue and 4500 South, crews will continue to embank the track way and will also place wick drains near Big Cottonwood Creek. At the 4500 South bridge, crews will continue work on one of the abutment back walls.

Traffic Impacts:

The eastbound and westbound right lanes on 3300 South will be closed Monday through Thursday.

There will be truck traffic with flaggers on 300 West just north of 3900 South Monday through Friday.

Central Avenue is currently closed at the tracks for wall construction.

Salt Lake Central Station:

Station complete.

Area 15 — 4500 South (Murray) to Wasatch Street/8000 South (Midvale)

Construction Activity:

At the 5300 South bridge, crews will be restoring sidewalks, and between 5900 South and I-215 westbound, crews will pour a retaining wall footing. At 7800 South crews will be installing power.

Traffic Impacts:

The 4500 South Frontage Road is currently closed at the tracks for bridge work through the end of August.

On 5300 South, the westbound right lane will be closed on Monday and the eastbound right lane will be closed Monday through Thursday.

Crews will be moving a crane on 5900 South on Monday.

Murray Station:

Excavation for canopy light pole foundations continues this week; crews will also be placing junction boxes.

Area 14 — Wasatch Street/8000 South (Midvale) to 14600 South (Bluffdale)

General Information:

Considerable progress has been made on the flyover structure west of Salt Lake Community College’s Miller Campus at 9800 South. The 642-foot flyover bridge features a 40-foot-high bridge deck that will allow FrontRunner to travel from the east to the west side of Union Pacific Railroad’s track way. The flyover structure’s approaches consist of keystone block MSE walls filled entirely with lightweight fill to minimize settlement.

Construction Activity:

Between Wasatch Street and 9000 South, crews will finish backfilling trenches and grouting boxes and also abandon two manholes. North of the 9000 South bridge, crews will continue excavation for a retaining wall, and at the 9000 South bridge, crews will drill nails at the south abutment. Crews will be excavating at the 9120 bridge and for the retaining wall between 9000 South and 9120 South. Crossing upgrades continue through Wednesday at the 10000 South crossing in conjunction with South Jordan’s road widening project. Crossing upgrades include signal and track work, the installation of concrete medians and signs, road striping, and asphalt replacement.

At 10200 South, crews will continue a gas line casing extension, and at the 10600 South bridge, crews will be pouring concrete for a pier transition. At 11400 South, crews will surface, line and dress track and also de-stress track in preparation for a shifting of Union Pacific, and at the Bangerter Highway bridge, crews will continue work on back and wing walls. South of Bangerter Highway, crews will continue to embank the track way.

Traffic Impacts:

The eastbound left lane turn pocket will be closed on 9000 South on Thursday.

On 9120 South there will be a lane shift of the westbound right lane and a westbound sidewalk closure on Monday and a lane shift of the eastbound right lane and an eastbound sidewalk closure on Tuesday.

There will be truck traffic with flaggers on 9400 South Monday through Wednesday.

The 10000 South crossing will be closed for crossing upgrade work through Wednesday, August 18. Through traffic should detour north to 9400 South and no pedestrian access will be available across the crossing.

The eastbound or westbound left lane on 10600 South will be closed Thursday.

South Jordan Station:

Lightweight fill for the job is being stored at the station site. There are no construction activities to report.

Draper Future Station:

There are no construction activities to report.

Area 13 — 14600 South (Bluffdale) to Thanksgiving Point (Lehi)

Construction Activity:

Crews will be clearing and grubbing the corridor and excavating south of 14600 South as well as continuing demolition of existing Union Pacific track in the Jordan Narrows. Work at a Jordan River bridge retrofit includes repairing a bent cap and rip rap installation. Slope excavation and stabilization below the Thanksgiving Point golf course continues.

Traffic Impacts:

There are currently no impacts to motorists in this area.

Area 12 — Thanksgiving Point (Lehi) to Main Street (American Fork)

General Information:

Crews are currently constructing two major bridges in Lehi at 2300 West and 2100 North. The 2300 West bridge will allow FrontRunner to travel over Lehi City’s future 2300 West road project and the 2100 North bridge will span UDOT’s future Mountain View Corridor, 2100 North roadway. The 2100 North bridge will feature abutments on each end of the bridge and five center piers. For the purposes of this publication, the piers are numbered 1 through 5 starting at the southern end of the bridge.

Construction Activity:

At the 2300 West bridge, crews will backfill and remove sheet pile at the south abutment, and at the 2100 North bridge, crews will continue work on the bridge parapet, deck and ballast walls. Between 2100 North and 1500 North, crews will finish prepping the sub grade, and from 1500 North to 1220 North, crews will place sub ballast. Between 1220 North and 900 North, crews will clear and grub the corridor and south of 900 North, crews will continue retaining wall construction. Crossing upgrades will take place this week at the Center Street crossing. Crossing upgrades include signal and track work, the installation of concrete medians and signs, road striping, and asphalt replacement. Crews will also be construction a retaining wall along Center Street. Between Center Street and 300 East crews will be prepping the sub grade and from 300 East to 7350 West, crews will clear and grub the corridor and stabilize the grade.

Traffic Impacts:

There will be a lane closure with flaggers on Garden Drive near the pedestrian tunnel on Monday and Tuesday.

There will be truck traffic with flaggers in the following Lehi locations this week:

· 1500 North, Tuesday through Thursday

· 1220 North, Tuesday through Thursday

· 900 North, Monday through Thursday

The Center Street crossing will be closed for crossing upgrade work Monday, August 16 through Sunday, August 22. Traffic will be detoured on 300 South, 500 West and 700 South.

Lehi Station:

A portion of the Lehi Station Park and Ride Lot is now open for public use.

At the pedestrian tunnel, crews will build forms and pour concrete for the tunnel walls. At the Park and Ride Lot, crews will continue curb and gutter work and also set light conduit.

Area 11 — Main Street (American Fork) to University Parkway (Orem)

Construction Activity:

Between the American Fork River and University Parkway in Orem, crews will install signal conduit and pull boxes. In American Fork, crews will finish crossing upgrades at the 1100 South and 1500 South crossings, and in Vineyard, crews will surface, line and dress the track near the box culvert recently constructed at Anderson Geneva.

Traffic Impacts:

There will be truck traffic, equipment and lane restrictions with flaggers in the areas of the 1100 South and 1500 South crossings in American Fork all week so crews can finish crossing upgrades.

American Fork Station:

There are no construction activities to report.

Vineyard Future Station:

There are no construction activities to report.

Orem Station:

There are no construction activities to report.

Area 10 — University Parkway (Orem) to Center Street (Provo)

General Information:

Significant progress has been made in Area 10 along the Union Pacific Railroad corridor between University Parkway in Orem and Freedom Boulevard in Provo. Crews have prepared a path for FrontRunner by grading and clearing the right-of-way and relocating water lines. Drainage and irrigation installations are generally complete in this area, and main line earthwork has been finalized from University Parkway to 2000 South in Orem and from the Provo River bridge to 500 West in Provo. At-grade crossing improvements have also been completed in Provo at 2000 North, 2800 West, 1680 North, 820 North, Draper Lane, 900 West, 700 West, 500 West and Freedom Boulevard.

Construction Activity:

Just south of University Parkway in Orem, crews will excavate and pour a foundation pad for a replacement sound wall, and between 1680 North and I-15 in Provo, crews will install power. Between the Provo River bridge and 900 West, crews will remove poles, and at 900 West 500 South, crews will finish the road realignment. Between 900 West and 700 West crews will build a concrete lid for a drainage system and between Freedom Boulevard and University Avenue, crews will pave for a switch and stage ties. Crews will also be staging ties and rail between University Avenue and 900 South. Also in this area, crews will pour an asphalt turnout and place sub ballast.

Traffic Impacts:

There will be a shoulder closure on 500 West Tuesday through Friday.

Provo Station:

There are no construction activities to report.

Thanks again for your interest in the FrontRunner South project. If you have construction-related questions,please call our 24-hour construction hotline at 1-888-800-8854.